Can opener



April 21, 1925. 1,534,603

M. MECHELSEN CAN OPENER Filed Oct. 22, 1923 INVENTOR H'TTORNEY Patented Apr. 21, 1925.

LIAURITZ MEcHnLsEN. or srm'rrnn, wasmneron.

CAN OPENER.

Application filtd- October 22. 1923. Serial No. 669,964;

To all'whomi it. may concern:

Be itknown that I, MAUBIwz MEQHELSIEN, acitiz'en ofthe United States, residing. at-

Seattle, county of King,:and State ofiNVashington, have invented anew and useful; Can Opener; and I do hereby declare that the followingiis' a full, cleaijand' exact specification, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. I

The invention is a can-opener in which the cutting blade may be moved so that it will be within'the limits of the body when not in use.

The object of the invention is to provide a small inexpensive device for opening cans which may readily be carried in ones pocket.

Another object of the invention 1s to provide a can-opener with a collapsible blade.

A further object of the invention is to provide a can-opener which embodies a combination of a cutting blade, a screw-driver, a cigar trimmer, and a bottle opener.

And a further object of the invention is to provide a can-opener which will open either round or square cans and which will leave a smooth surface on the interior of the can.

With these ends in view the invention embodies a fiat piece of material forming a body with a lug on the side at one end, an opening with beveled edges through it, a hook forming a bottle opener at the opposite end, and a projection'in the form of a screw-driver; and another plate slidably held in slots in the former plate with a projection in the form of a knife blade at one end.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be seen from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the device in the act of cutting into a can;

Fig. 2 is a view of the opposite side;

Fig. 3 is a view showing an alternate design in which the sliding member with the blade is held in the body by bending the edges of the body over the sliding member;

Fig. 4 is another view showing another alternate design into which parts of the body are stamped outward so that they will extend through slots in the sliding member and then bent over to slidably hold the slidingfinember to the body; and

Fig. 5 is another view showing another alternate design in which the slidingmemher is provided with a dovetailed projection which slides in a dove-tailed groove in the body.

In the drawings I have shown my device as itwould be constructed wherein numeral 1 indicates the body which is provided with a lug 2 on the side at one end, a projection 3 forming a screw driver at the opposite end, and a hook 4 which in combination with the screw-driver forms a bottle opener. A small notch 5 is provided in the end above the lug 2 in which a ridge 6 of a can may be placed when the cover is being cut. The cutting blade 7 is formed on the end of a sliding section 8 which is held to the body 1 by rivets or bolts 9. in slots 10. And Lt will be seen that the section 8 may be moved backward and forward as may be desired. The section is shown in the inner position in Fig. 2, which will be the closed position,

and it will be seen that in this position the I cutting edge 7 will be protected by the lug 2 so that the device may be placed in a vest pocket without danger of the blade cutting or tearing. When in use the section 8 may be moved outward to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, or to the position shown in Fig. 1, and it will be seen that it may be placed over the top of the can by placing the ridge 6 through the notch 5 and v allowing the lug 2 to engage the under side of the ridge. The cutting blade 7 may then be forced into the top of the can by pulling upward on the rear end. Beveled holes 11 and 12 may be placed in the body 1 and sec tion 8 so that a cigar may be placed through them and clipped by sliding the section 8 outward.

It is understood that the device may be made in the design shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the sliding member slidably attached to the stationary member or body by placing screws through slots in the sliding member or in either of the designs shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 in which the two members are held together by forming the members so that one will slide in or on the other. In Fig. 3 the outer edges of the body 1 are crimped overthe section 8 so that it will be free to slide backward and forward. In the design shown in Fig. l sections 13 may be stamped out of the body 1 and clipped over the section 8 through an opening 14: which may be in the form of a slotted hole so that the section 8 will be free to slide backward and forward. In the design shown in Fig. 5 the section 8 is provided with a dovetail projection 15 which will slide in a slot 16 in the body 1.

It is understood that other changes may be made in the construction without departing "from the spirit of the invention. One of which changes may be in the providing of the device as a can-opener by itself with out the combination of the other devices shown; another may be in the shape of the cutting edge 7; and still another may be in the shape of the lug 2.

Having thus fully described the inven tion, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 1- A can opener having a body portion and a member slidably attached thereto, said body portion having a lug extending downward and outward at one end and said sliding member having a curved blade that may be moved to a position somewhat beyond the lug when it is desired to use the device and that may be moved inward so that the lug will protect the blade when it is in the closed position; and said lug being adaptable to engage the bead at the edge of a can as the blade is forced into the endof the can.

MAURITZ MECHELSEN. 

